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Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted on Sunday that it is important to maintain some of the anti-epidemic restrictions in Germany until between 60% and 70% of the population have immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Angela Merkel acknowledged – in a recording in which she answers the questions of citizens on the occasion of the open days of the German government – that some of the measures introduced in November are “bitter and harsh”, but necessary to control the pandemic .
“We know from other epidemics that the virus was more or less defeated when between 60% or 70% of the population had immunity, either because (people) were cured or because they were vaccinated. Then all restrictions can be lifted. Until then, we have to live with some restrictions imposed by the virus, ”Merkel explained, according to Agerpres.
The German chancellor did not indicate any time horizon for lifting the restrictions, but expressed hope that “soon” the first vaccines will be authorized. In Germany, about 660,000 people have so far been infected, representing about 0.8% of the population.
Germans will not be forced to get vaccinated
Merkel went on to say that the vaccination period would start according to a plan currently being finalized by the federal government and the 16 Länder, with technical support from various independent bodies such as the Standing Committee on Vaccines, the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences and the Commission for Ethics.
Merkel noted that, in principle, nursing home workers, doctors and people in risk categories, who “are many in our country”, will be vaccinated first.
The vaccination process will depend on the number of vaccines available and the period of immunity it generates. No one will be forced to get vaccinated, it will be everyone’s decision, the German Chancellor insisted.
Publisher: GC
